topicswithjimlehrer. jimlehrerissuch a mild mannered guy, that i think he'll try to keep the tone of the debate civil. i think that will also -- i think that will also affect what we see and hear tonight. >> we shall see. jim acosta, jim, thanks for me there in denver. and we showed you mitt romney, that clip and that pretty contentious debate from late last year. for the president, though, you have to reach back to 2008 to get a hint of his debate demeanor. check this out with me. first, with hillary clinton at the time obama's rival for the democratic nomination for president. >> set of assertions made by senator clinton as well as her husband that are not factually accurate. and -- >> you like to pretend like the war started in 2007. you talk about the surge, the war started in 2003. and the -- and at the time, when the war started, you said it was going to be quick and easy you said you knew where the weapons of mass destruction were, you were wrong. >> so that was a little taste for you on how the president goes into attack mode. jessica yellin, chief white house corresponden